Santo Domingo.– Dominican authorities dismantled a sophisticated international drug trafficking operation by seize 9.8 tons of cocaine in the Caucedo Multimodal Portthe largest drug seizure in the country’s history.
The operation, carried out on December 5 by the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD).
Today, almost 40 days later, a series of more than 40 raids were unleashed nationwide, led by the Public Ministry, which resulted in the arrest of at least 15 people linked to illicit shipment.
This operation, carried out by the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD), has revealed a sophisticated drug trafficking network and triggered a series of judicial and operational actions that are still in development.
December 5
On December 5, the Dominican authorities seized a container in the Puerto Caucedo that contained 5,989 packages of cocaine, camouflaged between boxes of bananas.
The arrests have occurred after several raids. Archive photo.
The drugs were being transshipped from a container identified with the number FFAU454228 to another marked HLBU9354083, shipped empty from Guatemala with the intention of being filled with the cocaine shipment in the Dominican Republic and then transported to Belgium, one of the main entry points for drugs into Europe.
The seizure was the result of a coordinated action between the Joint Information and Coordination Center (CICC) unit and other departments of the DNCD, who detected suspicious movements in the port terminal.
Authorities reported that the Scorpius ship, on which the container was initially transported, made a stop in Puerto Cortés, Honduras, but the container was not unloaded there.
The drugs left Colombia
The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, also referred to the discovery during a speech in which he highlighted the global challenges of drug trafficking.
Petro pointed out that this seizure shows the magnitude of the problem, which is not limited to drug-producing countries, but also involves large international distribution networks.
“This discovery in the Dominican Republic calls us to reflect on the need for more effective cooperation to combat this scourge,” he said.
More than 40 raids and 15 arrests
After the seizure, the Public Ministry, together with the DNCD, launched a series of nationwide operations to dismantle the network responsible for the shipment.
Under the direction of Attorney Yeni Berenice Reynoso, more than 40 raids have been carried out in the National District, Santo Domingo Este, Boca Chica and other locations. So far, at least 15 people have been arrested, and investigations continue to identify all those involved.
During the raids, authorities have collected evidence that points to a well-structured criminal organization, with international connections and access to advanced logistical resources.
The detainees are being interrogated to determine their degree of participation in the seizure and other related operations.
